Melissa Gilbert has publicly aligned herself with her husband, actor and director Timothy Busfield, after he was charged in New Mexico for allegedly touching two juvenile actors inappropriately and turned himself in to authorities this week.
Busfield, 68, surrendered to police in Albuquerque on Tuesday, four days after a warrant was issued for his arrest. The same day, Gilbert’s representative released a statement saying the former Little House on the Prairie star would not be speaking publicly while the legal process plays out.
“Melissa is honoring the request of Tim’s lawyers not to speak publicly while the legal process unfolds,” the statement said. “During this period, her focus is on supporting and caring for their very large family as they navigate this moment. Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time.”
Before surrendering, Busfield released a video obtained by TMZ in which he forcefully denied the allegations.
“I’m going to confront these lies,” Busfield said. “They’re horrible. They’re all lies. I did not do anything to those little boys. I’m going to fight it with a great team and I’m going to be exonerated.”
Busfield said he drove roughly 2,000 miles to Albuquerque after receiving the call from authorities Friday night, adding that he expects to return to work once the matter is resolved.
The arrest warrant was issued after Busfield was accused of fraternizing with two young actors while working on the Fox crime series The Cleaning Lady, where he served as an executive producer and directed multiple episodes. The alleged incidents are said to have occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024.
According to police documents, the allegations include claims that Busfield kissed a boy on the face while the child was getting a haircut in the hair and makeup trailer. The Albuquerque Police Department began investigating the case in November 2024 after a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital reported concerns to authorities.
Complaints were later reported to Warner Bros. in February 2025, prompting an independent investigation. That inquiry ultimately found no evidence to substantiate the allegations, according to police records.
Busfield told investigators that he believed the mother of the alleged victims was seeking retaliation after her children were not cast in the show’s final season.
Following the filing of charges last week, NBC pulled an upcoming episode of Law & Order: SVU in which Busfield was scheduled to appear as a guest star.
Busfield has been married three times. He shares a son with his first wife, actor and director Radha Delamarter, and two children with his second wife, fashion designer Jennifer Merwin. He married Gilbert in 2013.
As the case moves forward, Gilbert has made clear where she stands: firmly beside her husband, while the spotlight shifts from Hollywood sets to a courtroom in New Mexico.
